Newcastle United began their first Champions League campaign in 20 years by drawing 0-0 with AC Milan at the San Siro.
With Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain also in Group F, it promises to be a fiercely competitive battle to reach the knockout stages.
Here our writers break down the key talking points from the game (you can relive them all here).
A good draw for Newcastle and an injury worry for Milan
Eddie Howe’s team were undoubtedly on the back foot in the first half, but they coped with Milan’s pressure and won a vital point. They put bodies on the line when needed (six opposition shots were blocked) and Nick Pope made an excellent eight saves.
It’s the most competitive of the groups – before kick-off, Opta predicted a 31 per cent chance of Newcastle finishing top in December, a 26 per cent chance of coming second, 24 per cent of third place (and a place in Europe. The knockout round of the league in February) and 19 percent of the carry back.
Fighting form is not a prerequisite for success in this competition.
Last season’s winners, Manchester City, have won just one of their six trips – and that was in the first leg against Sevilla. Then they drew 0-0 in the group with Dortmund and FC Copenhagen, and 1-1 in three knockout ties against RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Similarly, Liverpool lost all three away group games in 2018-19, when they went on to lift the trophy – 1-0 at Napoli, 2-0 against Red Star Belgrade and 2-1 at Paris Saint-Germain.
Newcastle are not expected to go into the tournament, but being a successful team in the Champions League has everything to do with defensive strength.
If anything, it was a huge missed opportunity for Milan, especially after starting the game so well. Not scoring, despite taking 25 shots, was a waste, and a win would go a long way to avenging Saturday’s 5-1 derby defeat at Inter.
Perhaps the bigger blow for them on the night was the injury that forced goalkeeper Mike Maignan off late, though.
Liam Tharme
But does Howe’s approach show true faith?
Given Newcastle’s form, and the difficulty of the group, they understandably went into the game cautiously. This is a Milan team that reached the semi-finals of this competition last season, after all.
(Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Newcastle played like a team that started to believe they were underdogs. They work best in transition, taking care to always turn the two midfielders back, and throw themselves into blocks. But given Milan’s defeat at the weekend – as well as the undoubted attacking talent that Newcastle possess – there is also reason why Howe’s side should not take on this role. .
Sean Longstaff’s late shot showed Newcastle had opportunities to win and their performance throughout showed they belong at this level.
In home games, where victories are necessary to advance, there should be no inferiority complex.
Jacob Whitehead
Pioli’s tweak got the better of Howe’s press before the Calabria exit
Stefano Pioli’s home side needed a first half – they fell behind early against Inter at the weekend and struggled to control the game from there.
A tactical tweak this time saw right-back Davide Calabria stick out wide, having played inside Milan’s last three Serie A games, turning their 4-3-3 into a 3-2 -5. This time, Milan stuck to the 4-3-3 with wide full-backs and wings, playing Rade Krunic as a pivot. Newcastle’s press was aggressive, but Eddie Howe positioned wingers Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy narrowly, following Milan’s centre-backs.
This left space for goalkeeper Mike Maignan to chip pass to his full-backs, and Milan got out of it. He completed more passes to his full-backs (eight) than to his centre-backs (five) in the first half. Maignan also kicked striker Olivier Giroud and winger Rafael Leao, who moved inside and brought Kieran Trippier with him, creating space for left-back Theo Hernandez to overlap.
The knock-on effect is that a central Newcastle midfielder has to press into Milan’s full-back, which in turn opens up space in the centre. Together, Newcastle’s midfield was stretched for Milan to access their forwards from wide spaces, and the home side were also not in a position to collect second balls.
Pioli’s switch from the weekend of Tommaso Pobega for Tijjani Reijnders offers the necessary physicality to tackle Newcastle in central midfield.
Milan had 15 shots in the first half, more than they had in the opening 45 minutes of any Champions League game last season, when they reached the semi-finals. Seven of those were on target, including one that forced a goal-line clearance – also better than all of their first European sides a year ago.
Calabria’s substitution at half-time, as a result of his yellow card after fouling Gordon, derailed Milan’s attack plan for most of the second half.
Liam Tharme
Milan’s failure to finish
Milan are coming off a humbling 5-1 derby defeat at Inter on Saturday night and need a positive result here to secure a place in the 2023-24 Champions League “Group of Death”. What ensued was a fun – if slightly angry – show.
Their 15 first-half shots were their most in a Champions League competition since the 2011-12 meeting with BATE Borisov in Belarus.
The statistic loses a little gloss when you consider that only seven of the shots were on target, with another section aimed directly at ‘keeper Nick Pope in central areas, but it speaks volumes. building the side of Stefano Pioli. Milan had a fantastic collection of ball carriers, but decisive action in the final third was lacking for most of the night.
Against a Newcastle side that was solid, if a bit shaky under the bright lights of the Champions League, Pioli’s men should have been out of sight by the hour mark.
The introductions of Christian Pulisic and Tijjani Reijnders at that point brought a further injection of pace and attacking thrust to things but an effort from the former in the 64th minute summed things up: The one dribble with enough agility to gain a yard of space on a dangerous. place, then one shot would be futile enough to keep Dad from worrying.
The injury inflicted Yunus Musah substitute for Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the 72nd minute took a layer of gloss from the Milan attack machine. “They need to find the corners with a little more power,” is former England manager Glenn Hoddle’s assessment of the home side’s shooting.
It’s called the team of death because all of its teams are good, but all four are prone to weird glitches.
The final scoreline was 0-0, but the expected goals (xG) figures of 2.08 for Milan and Newcastle’s 0.19 paint a more complete picture of the hosts’ waste.
Carl Anka
Sandro Tonali brought back the silent San Siro
Sandro Tonali said before the game that it would take time to settle into life at Newcastle following his summer move from Milan, and that was certainly the case here.
After an hour, he has attempted 10 passes, compared to 30-odd of his midfield partners Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes, and only 20 touches.
Having left the San Siro for St James’ Park in June for €70million (£60m; $75m), a return day felt destined, even before Newcastle got the ball to put them in Group F .A future captain of the black and red. , now in black and white.
It was Tonali’s first start as a left-sided No 8 in Eddie Howe’s 4-3-3, having started Newcastle’s first four league games on the right, playing behind Miguel Almiron. Rested for Saturday’s home win over Brentford, the last sighting of the Italian was his No 8 jersey bombing forward against Brighton on September 2, leaving holes at the back as Newcastle suffered 3-1 loss.
Overall, Newcastle’s performance was cautious, a side wary of Milan’s transfer risk. Tonali encapsulates that approach – of course, he knows Milan’s strengths more than most – and is a player who worries about overcommitting, despite attracting a return of goals.
The whole stadium applauded him when he was replaced in the 71st minute for Elliot Anderson – the feeling was not only thanks to his previous three seasons at the club, but also that he did not spoil them tonight.
Jacob Whitehead
Pulisic offers a spark while Musah makes his Champions League debut
After starting all four of Milan’s Serie A matches so far this season, Christian Pulisic finds himself on the bench for their Champions League opener. Fans of the United States international should fear that he is about to repeat his Chelsea fate in Italy, however, as he received an early hook during the 5-1 defeat against Inter last night. Saturday.
However, the winger looked lively when replaced by Samuel Chukwueze after 61 minutes. Although both of his shots were off target, he led all Milan players with five touches inside the Newcastle box since his arrival.
Milan also gave fellow American Yunus Musah his Champions League debut after three seasons with Spain’s Valencia, checking in on the 70-minute mark. The 20-year-old was brought on to help stretch the game against a relatively stagnant Newcastle defence, working his way down the right-half for Pulisic to trouble Dan Burn and set up shop more. you are close to the box.
Unfortunately for their side, their forays did not lead to a winner in Milan. However, their second nature connection due to their time with the national team gives Musah a clear way to make an impact as he works in coach Stefano Pioli’s rotation.
Jeff Rueter
Aidan Harris, the 16-year-old named in the Newcastle bench
One name Newcastle fans may not be familiar with is their 16-year-old replacement goalkeeper Aidan Harris.
From Washington, a short drive south of the city, he benefits from the expanded benches of the Champions League to be named with Loris Karius among the substitutes here.
With Newcastle Under-19s playing their Milan counterparts in the UEFA Youth League earlier in the day, it means he skips Max Thompson and Jude Smith on the senior bench. What an experience.
Jacob Whitehead